Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/49

Rh of the previous year retaining the black markings on the neck. This also was the case at Hjelmsö, where two cannon were fired under the cliff, and instantly on all sides, and across our deck, the air was cut by the passage of countless birds all rushing out to sea; Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Black Guillemots, Cormorants, and thousands of Kittiwakes; high aloft, above the excited throng, floated a large Buzzard, probably Buteo lagopus, the only bird of prey I saw in Norway. The sea was covered with the young of Guillemots and Razorbills unable to fly, and our slowly revolving screw I thought must have destroyed several as we steamed at slow speed in front of the black mural precipices on whose ledges the little swimmers first saw the light of the arctic summer. On many of the low flat holms on the coast the Gulls of various species appeared to be nesting by hundreds, with swarms of young grey birds running about the rocks, but none able, as yet, to use their wings. In most cases probably the first eggs from two layings had been taken. The pretty Black Guillemot, in pairs, is one of the commonest sea-birds on the coast. I never saw a Gannet, the Fulmar, Great Skua, or a Shearwater. Several Pomatorhine Skuas, especially north of the Circle and in the Lofotens; Richardson's and Buffon's Skuas were both exceedingly plentiful. Much amusement was afforded on board the 'Neptune' by watching these pirates chasing and bullying their neighbours, descending swiftly and striking the unfortunate victim on the back till he had paid toll by disgorging his honestly-earned meal. I always thought a Gull on the water was safe from their attacks, but this was not the case. Two beautiful adult longtailed Buffon's Skuas made a most determined attack on a Lesser Black-back on the water. The Gull screamed his best, but the persecutors never desisted till they had gained their point. Both the smaller Skuas were very abundant between the Cape and Vardö in the Arctic Ocean, being constantly in sight on these wilderness waters. Both the Cormorant and Shag are common, the latter especially. I never saw so many Shags in one day as I saw in the Jarfjord east of the Varanger, and touching the Russian frontier. They sat on the rocks in lines and groups, slowly beating their expanded wings, like so many old ladies in dark shot-silk dresses fanning in a hot ball-room.